Martina Hingis still a force in Melbourne

Yesterday, Martina Hingis and Leander Paes won the Australian Open mixed doubles championship, defeating defending champions Kiki Mladenovic and Daniel Nestor 6-4, 6-3. This was the second time that Hingis had won the mixed doubles title; she also won it in 2006, with partner Mahesh Bhupathi.

Hingis won the singles championship in 1997, 1998 and 1999. She won the doubles title in 1997, 1998, 1999, and 2002. She played with Natasha Zvereva in 1997, Mirjana Lucic in 1998, and Anna Kournikova in 1999 and 2002.

Leander Paes, who is also Hingis's World Team Tennis partner, holds seven major mixed doubles title, two of which he won with Martina Navratilova, after whom Hingis was named.

Hingis's return of serve in yesterday's final was so instinctive and sharp, it seemed as though no time had passed at all, though it's been 18 years since she won her first title in Melbourne.